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That Deadman Dance (2010)

by Kim Scott(Favorite Author)

3.45 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1405040440 (ISBN13: 9781405040440)

languge

English

genre

Fiction

publisher

Pan MacMillan Australia

review 1: I really hated this book, and I wish I could better articulate why. I hated the lack of chronological movement - the flashbacks, flash-forwards made me dizzy and confused. Also the reader was never aware of seasons, times, and other setting elements that I find important. It's possible I'm a lazy reader and didn't want to work to get the "rich rewards," as described in the synopsis. It's also possible the writer used the same few sparse words and terms to describe the same characters, towns, boats, whales. Reading the reuse of those few details over and over became maddening. There's so much more I would like to know, to connect with, to understand. And it just wasn't here.
review 2: Book Club May 2012. I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy this book. Th... moree author perhaps because of his own indigenous ties writes in a very gently and quiet manner that took a while to adapt too. This is a story and shameful reminder of what has happened to the original landowners of this country the Australian Aborigines. The book is brilliant in its subtlety. Demonstrating the ingrained arrogance and racism, the foolish supremacy and failure to acknowledge that Australia was already settled and owned by a society. I love how the book quietly teaches the reader that these indigenous Australians had their own laws and hierarchy, a strong culture and such a rich and deep understanding of the land that they were willing to share peacefully and no one was willing to listen or be respectful of.... I do enjoy a good historical fiction! 'Bobby' the main character teaches us about the land and the earths own spirituality and breath through his own thoughts in an unimposing way. The English characters don't learn the lessons you so hope they would because that is not in keeping with Australian culture or even the experience of whites and blacks in this country even today so whilst its depressing - its real. This book doesn't pack the punches of either Peter Watts 'Cry of the Curlew'or Kate Grenville's 'The Secret River'. But perhaps that is where the beauty of this book lies? It doesn't use either violence or torture to demonstrate the evils of racism and the demoralising torture of our indigenous Australians, like most racism it does so slowly, quietly and pervasively and it continues to reasonate anyway. Probably a book we all need to read. less

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